Grand Haven downs Mona Shores in three sets, wins 11th straight district title

GRAND RAPIDS – Another Class A district volleyball final, another Grand Haven district championship.

The Buccaneers defeated Mona Shores in straight sets on Thursday, by scores of 25-16, 25-19 and 25-9, to claim their 11th straight Class A district championship, and 15th in the past 16 years, at Grand Rapids Northview High School.

But this year was a little different, because Grand Haven has a younger team that has experienced some growing pains, so success in districts was no certainty. The Bucs lost to Mona Shores twice earlier this season.

But on Thursday the Bucs were in top form when it really mattered.

“We hadn’t played them since the boardwalk,” said Grand Haven head coach Aaron Smaka, referring to his team’s lack of success against Mona Shores in an early-season outdoor tournament. “The boardwalk is always weird to me. But they beat us and we were 0-2 going into tonight. But we knew that we had grown since then.”

Smaka said his team does not overemphasize the district championship streak, even though it says a lot about the consistent quality of the Grand Haven program.

“I just think every year we look at it as new,” the coach said. “We’ve never talked about the streak, but I think this is the best we’ve played (this season) on a consistent basis tonight.”

“It’s amazing,” Boeve said about going 4-for-4 in district championship matches in her varsity career. “I love this program. We do a great job of always getting better. Somehow our coaches seem to be able to take anybody and make them into district champs.”

“It means a lot,” Slater said about helping her senior teammates win yet another district title. “It’s really awesome and cool that I have a chance to play and help the team and these seniors accomplish what they want.”

Grace Hellman led Mona Shores with six kills.

Grand Haven will face either Grand Rapids Christian or Caledonia at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in the Class A regional semifinals at Jenison High School.